Merz government is desperately fighting against the decline

Unpopular Chancellor

Reforms, reforms, reforms – that is the motto of the two-day meeting that began on Tuesday 90 minutes by car east of Berlin. In fact, there is a massive one in many areas Renewal jamwhich annoys the German. In numbers: 85 percent are dissatisfied with the Chancellor’s work, even a majority of Union supporters see it that way. Beneficiary is partly right-wing extremist AfDwhich is up to eight percentage points ahead of the CDU/CSU in nationwide surveys and could even achieve an absolute majority in the election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday in a week’s time.

These are official Bad news Not an issue for the Union and the Social Democrats, whose forecasts at the federal level only show twelve percent. The aim here is to work on factual topics. “We now have a lot on our to-do list that we have to tackle together in the fall,” said the new head of the Chancellery Nina Warken (CDU) on “Deutschlandfunk,” “that will be one joint effort.” Specifically, it is about the following, for the implementation of which an exact timetable with milestones and dates should be drawn up – of course everything remained very vague…

Business

Merz had already called for “quick and comprehensive relief for the economy” before the meeting. He will “swear in” all ministers to this major project, “we want to get out of the weak growth our economy.” The aim is to strengthen the competitiveness of companies, for example by reducing non-wage labor costs and energy costs as well as by reducing bureaucracy. This ultimately leads to more growth and so on employment and prosperity. An appearance by Siemens CEO Roland Busch was intended to provide fresh ideas.

Digitalization

This should be massively expanded and driven forward more quickly so as not to lose touch internationally.

Research and Development

This is where the expansion and application of Artificial intelligence be accelerated in the various company divisions. Better framework conditions should contribute to a start-up boom Startups lead. And new technologies should be promoted. To illustrate this initiative, the latest interceptor drone from the Munich-based company “Titan Technologies,” founded in 2023, performed a small air show for members of the government on Tuesday.

Climate

The SPD ministers in particular called for measures to be taken after the summer heat waves even before the meeting. There were even calls for climate protection to be written into the Basic Law. But at least parts of the Union reject this as “actionism”. Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) stated before the Brandenburg meeting: “It is not climate protection that is weakening the economy, it is unchecked climate change.” Merz himself resigned clear consequences after the hot summer.

The interest rate

On this issue, the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed before the summer to abolish the pension without deductions at the age of 63 (after 45 years of contributions). But then three CDU prime ministers from eastern Germany came out against it. Christoph Ahlhaus, federal managing director of the medium-sized business association, then accused the Chancellor leadership weakness and lack of planning. Friedrich Merz himself wants to push through the pension package: “The federal government will not let itself be dissuaded from its course, we know what is right and good for the country,” the 70-year-old told the “Bildzeitung” before the meeting.

Spicy: The red-green government meeting in 2004 was also about (social) reforms, and the one at that time Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) formulated it back then in a similar way to Merz today: “Our course is right. We are not wobbling.” A year later, the Social Democrat was history and Angela Merkel took over.